The seven shortlisted candidates will undergo the FIFA integrity test, before their names are finally ratified for the ballot.

According to reports, Pinnick’s invitation of Infantino and 17 other African football federation presidents in July was only a cover-up to seek for support for his bid to contest for one of the FIFA seats, and this much has been confirmed by the man himself.

“As big as Nigeria, we don’t have a representative in CAF or in FIFA, so if I am ambitious to go to CAF or FIFA, yes because I am the president of the NFF, not because I’m just a member,” Pinnick told Lagos-based radio station, Lagos Talks FM on Tuesday.

“I am praying about it and if God wills it, why not? But the truth is Nigeria needs a presence globally and this is exactly what we are doing.”